DVD and Blu-ray Releases for March 8th, 2011

March 7th, 2011

Another incredibly slow week with very few releases that could be considered top tier. None of the first-run releases are really worth picking up for most people, but there are a couple smaller releases that are contenders for Pick of the Week. This includes Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XX, but in the end I gave that honor to Inside Job on either DVD or Blu-ray.

Billy Joel: Live at Shea Stadium - Buy from Amazon
I reviewed the documentary last month, while the concert DVD comes out this week and the concert Blu-ray comes out next month. No idea why they are splitting the release like that.

Colin & Brad: Two Man Group - Buy from Amazon
Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood are best known for their work in Whose Line Is It Anyway? and they recently took their brand of improve on the road for a two-man show. Still waiting on the screener, but it should arrive soon.

Doctor Who - Buy from Amazon: Story 23: The Ark and Story 85: Seeds of Doom
Two more Doctor Who stories coming out on the home market this week. The first, The Ark, is one of the earliest stories, originally airing in 1966. It might not be among the best the the franchise has to offer, but it is still worth checking out. On the other hand, some would argue Seeds of Doom is among the best. And with plenty of extras, fans will be wanting to add both DVDs to their growing collections.

Every Day - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Good cast, mixed reviews, poor box office results, weak home market releases. If you are a fan of some of the cast, then it is worth checking out, but a rental will be enough.

Hannah Montana Forever: The Final Season - Buy from Amazon
So they put out the first season, and the last season, but not the other two. Huh. That bit of strangeness aside, I'm still waiting on the screener for this release.

Inside Job - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This Oscar winningdocumentary about the economic collapse is a must have and with plenty of extras (audio commentary track, deleted interviews, making of featurette) it is the Pick of the Week. The Blu-ray doesn't have any exclusive extras and it's not the type of film that needs to be seen in High Definition to be enjoyed, but at just 25% more, it's a good price compared to the DVD.

Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie - Blu-ray / Blu-ray Combo - Buy from AmazonVeggieTales has been releasing direct-to-DVD since before DVDs were around. (Obviously they started out as direct-to-video.) This was their first theatrical release, but was it worthy of theaters, or would it have been better if it went straight to the home market? Read our review for my opinion.

Morning Glory - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
This film was never able to find an audience in theaters when it opened last fall, but was this because of poor quality or was there something else at work here? And now that it has reached the home market, is it worth checking out? Perhaps even picking up? Read our review to find out.

The Next Three Days - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack
One of a trio of first-run releases that are hitting the home market this week and of the three, this one earned the weakest box office numbers. Is it better than the box office numbers would indicate? Check out our review for my opinion.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Great Patty Caper - Buy from Amazon
SpongeBob continues its decade-long run with the latest single-disc release. While I vastly prefer full-season sets, does this disc at least offer a strong selection of episodes? Perhaps some extras? Check out our review to find out.

Tales from Earthsea - Buy from Amazon
The latest from Studio Ghibli. I've reviewed many of their releases in the past, but this one earned weaker reviews than most of the studio's output. Is it really that much weaker? Won't know till the screener arrives. Also coming out this week is Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind on Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack, but that screener is also late.

Through the Wormhole With Morgan Freeman - Buy from AmazonMorgan Freeman hosts this science show that deals with the cutting edge of cosmology. What happened at the beginning, how did we get here, are we alone? It's an excellent program and worth picking up.

The Walking Dead: Season One - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A TV series about a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. It was created by three-time Oscar nominated Frank Darabont and it has earned impressive reviews. I'm looking forward to the screener arriving, but it's not here yet.